Show AND OTHER SL jt 1711 JK 1 SEA COMEDIES by morley roberts author of the colossus the fugitive copyright 1903 by publishing company copyright by L 0 fag company incorporated the others continued said that V as nonsense simpkins who now looked on the geologist as captain of the mutineers touched his hat to him and begged leave to speak well said the geologist what is it aint some of you gents good at Instruments 9 asked simpkins for i you are and it you could get hold of a sextant it would be doin things regular you was to take a sight of the sun ethnologist t arned to the as tro nomer how humanity yearns for a certain regularity he said it would really comfort simpkins it you would squint at the sun through a you find me the sextant said the astronomer and do it what youa said simpkins I 1 d never ha thought it though he could not be induced to say in public why he would never have thought it in private he revealed to the inquisitive ethnologist that the astronomer looked the meas liest of the whole gang sir the discussion which had been knocked the calta n down held on deck with simpkins at the wheel was broken up by the captain hammering furiously on his jammed door go down and soothe him said simpkins nervously and mind you tell him I 1 done bothin but give in to superior overwhelming in odds for so I 1 did gentlemen so I 1 did as you know bein those as done it tha committee went below with the geologist leading he carried his belaying pin in his pocket As they marched the uproar was bremen dous what a skull he must have said the ethnologist I 1 wish I 1 had it in my collection so do I 1 said the pathologist and the authority on philology pressed to the front rank tor captain joseph was doing his best lemme out he roared oh when I 1 do get out III show you what I 1 am shut up said the young geologist with firmness the captain gave an audible gasp shut upa he inquired weakly yes said the leader and give us your sextant it you have one well im damned said after a long and striking baue may I 1 inquire if youve took command 7 for if so and you require my services to peel pert aters and sweep the deck just say so and let me out will you be civil it we let you outa asked the astronomer kindly civila said choking what do you think we don t think you will be re piled the astronomer from the tone of your voice im sure he wont be said the geologist I 1 think we d better keep him where he is said the rest anxiously why the man s nothing but a raging luna tic oh said from within look here you mutineers Is simp ams in thise no said the geologist who showed a little humor occasionally hes out of it he tried to rescue you so we hung him but he came to again and Is now at the wheel what abbat that sextant 7 I 1 ain t got no sextant said he recognized it was no use kicking and the rum was dying out of his aching head then let s go on deck said the men of science what s the use of talking to him oh please said the subdued skipper but they paid no attention and returned to simpkins at various intervals during the day made anore and more pitiful appeals to ba let out but as the weather was clear and bright simp kins and his overwhelming odds were at work on deck and paid little or no attention simpkins now did not take his line from the skipper but feeling that the command was in commission adopted the manner of the sergeant instructor at a gyana slum now if a couple or four of you gentlemen would keep the go ing he urged from his station at the wheel we would get along a deal better and if you sir would come and take the wheel agin tor two shakes of a lamb s tail I 1 don t see no reason I 1 loose the upper main topsail so the geologist took the wheel while simpkins went aloft and loosed the upper main topsail supposing you wanted to have less sail presently said the astronomer to simpkins when the topsail was set what would you doa you gents would ave to elp stow it said simpkins what go asked the as tro nomer and why nota demanded simpkins it s easy going aloft as easy as tallan from the side of an ouse j so I 1 should think cried the as tro nomer shivering I 1 hope the weather will remain fine you know it s really remarkable how useful such an cuned man can be he said presently to some of the others now what use am ia cimpi simpi ins was passing and heard this he paused and eed the as tro nomer well to speak the truth sir he said sympathetically you ain t much but you do what you can at the end of a rope and I 1 t be surprised if you re all right at ome all of which is good against van ty said the astronomer as the barque under most of her plain sail steered east south east into the track of the atlantic liners and do you know absurd as it may seem I 1 am beginning to feel very well indeed better than I 1 have done for years As the night fell the captain who had by that time lost all his alcoholic courage appealed for mercy he shouted his petition to those on deck through the cabin port hole but he arted simpkins first simpkins he yelled yes sir said simpkins with his head over the rail come and let me out I 1 darnt sir said simpkins they re all very fierce and savage agin you especial about your using bad language and each of cm as a belakin pin and is a batchin of me its more than my life s worth to let you out and yes said the skipper it s more n yours is worth too you must ask em civil and give your word of honor sug the ferocious geologist in a whisper and give your word of honor to act civilly and quietly to every one to act civil and quiet sir said simpkins and not to talk too much about authority or drink any more rum prompted the savage astronomer and not to be too or to get again said simp kins for said the brutal geologist if you will agree to these terms we shall be glad of your advice and as si stance captain think of it returned the skipper sulkily all right said the rude geologist take a day or two to think it over oh lord said hastily ive thought ot it and I 1 agree and when he came on deck the savage and ferocious scientific cap bains remarked in a friendly manner that it was a fine evening damme t saidy he one time skipper I 1 m if I 1 ain t the crew of the kamma funder the rehabilitation of the vigia the mate of the Pa lembang walked the weather side of the poop and felt just then that he was full up to the back teeth of the mighty sea and all its works he yearned tor leith walk or wapping to lie on a hot dry beach would be heaven for the hot wet southwest monsoon was blowing the Pa lembang towards bombay and the were on the starboard beam jack allson propped his eyes open and cursed the slow passage of time towards midnight As he peered down below at the lighted clock he was inclined to swear that the second mate had come out and stopped it but presently it was five minutes to twelve and to his disgust sleepiness passed away as his relief stumbled up poop ladder and came aft jerusalem but it s dark said the second greaser as he looked up aloft and round about him have the gas lit growled wilson as he was going forward sulky devil replied the second when do you have a civil word for any onea this was all in the night s work and no one was a penny the worse civility at midnight is often too dear to be bought from any one but an in tenor and wilson and green knew each other very well the Pa lembang was running with what go aloft the wind on the port quarter and for a quiet life the old lady was under shortened canvas she went at it like an old dame in wind and snow a reefed foresail represented picked up petticoats the stowed royals and topgallant sails suggested that a hat with feathers had been replaced by a handkerchief for the monsoon was blowing stiff that july night seven degrees to the north of the line and threatened to blow stiffer yet As it was getting towards two clock or four bells the captain came on deck and nodded at the bin nacle when green said good morn ing sir then he spread his legs out and considered the dark universe tor a while it has waked up a bit since I 1 went below mr green he said present ly and wanting no answer he got none the song of the wind in the rigging and the draught under the toot of the foresail were answer but these was a pleasing hiss alongside as tha Pa lembang shoved through the indian ocean and left a lighter wal e behind there s a vigia marked on the chart for hereabouts said captain spiller presently it got there through that old tool banks ot the he reported it years ago but it warn t never confirmed rocks he said and one like cleopatra s needle then you don t credit it either sira ached green presently I 1 know banks replied spiller anor ing ani never was such a man for imagination and want of judgment id take it as proof positive as noth ing was it he said it stood to reason it must be and I 1 m a man as likes a clean and decent chart A chart Is the character give to an ocean by them as has employed it a bundle ot chits as the hindmo beggars say and to go an lump in a suspicion agin the character ot an ocean on the word of a man like banks why I 1 ve no pa tience I 1 ve a notion that the law of libel ought to have a say in it aye sir said green the indian ocean versus banks and I 1 d believe it of banks that he done it just to get his name men tinned and to rise a bit of a palaver about him he s a most conceited chap is banks and not by any means the seaman he d like to be thought and they actually sent a man war down to look up his simoom rocks and they came back and never seen em and nobody else ever did sir to be continued |